Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on August 7, 2021

Veteran political negotiator and brother of President Isaac Herzog, Michael Herzog, is Prime Minister Naftali Bennetts leading candidate for ambassador to the US, a senior source in Jerusalem said on Thursday.

Bennett hopes to bring the nomination to the cabinet for approval on Sunday.

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Currently a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Herzog had a long IDF career including as head of strategic planning, and retired a brigadier-general. He later served as a senior adviser to defense ministers Ehud Barak, Amir Peretz, Shaul Mofaz and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, including as chief of staff to the defense minister.

He was former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus special envoy on the peace process 2009-2010, and was a negotiator in the secret channel between Israel and the Palestinians 2013-2014. He previously participated in most rounds of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, Jordanians and Syrians, including the Wye Plantation summit, Camp David summit, Annapolis and others hosted by the Americans, and as such has many connections in Washington.

The ambassadorial candidate already has a relationship with US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

Appointing someone viewed as one of Israels top security experts and also someone whose career has been apolitical despite coming from a famous Labor Party family is meant to send a message to Washington, the source in Jerusalem said.

A final decision on the new ambassador will likely be made in the coming days, after Bennetts incoming National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata and Diplomatic Adviser Shimrit Meir return from Washington, where they met with White House and State Department officials this week, but before Bennett makes his first trip to the White House, likely in the coming weeks.

Current Ambassador to the US Gilad Erdan tendered his resignation in June, but is expected to remain Israels envoy at the UN.

See the rest here:

Cabinet to approve President Herzog's brother as ambassador to US - The Jerusalem Post

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